Monday, March 02, 2009

One of UW's student newspapers, the Badger Herald, posted this story (and see this at indianz.com) quoting State Rep. Scott Suder as saying:

“The governor should concentrate more on using our tax money to preserve jobs rather than preserving dead languages.”

Of course, most Native languages of Wisconsin are definitely alive, with some L1 speakers and many semi-speakers and learners. And the money is 250,000 out of a 20+ billion dollar budget. Not offended yet?

Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, called the program “goofy and crazy” given the state’s current financial atmosphere and the loss of so many jobs throughout Wisconsin.

…

Suder also said the taxpayers should not be forced to pay for this program because most tribes make enough revenue from their casinos to pay for it. He added he is sorry for the situation but jobs are definitely more important than dead language preservation.

As indicated, Suder represents Abbotsford in northern Wisconsin, pretty close to a number of reservations, and surely a district with some number of Indians in it.

Say, I wonder how many dollars go to teaching Latin in this state, at the high school and university levels? Classical Greek? Biblical Hebrew? Vastly more than 250K.